City council gritters out in force tonight as temperatures plummet.
Milton Keynes is among the regions listed by the Met Office in a ‘yellow’ weather warning issued today.
Central and southeastern regions of the UK are likely to be affected by a frontal system that’s heading this way for the weekend. Combined with already bitterly cold conditions, it could bring heavy snow which, the Met Office says, might affect travel arrangements, cause power cuts and cut off rural communities.
Dan Holley, deputy chief forecaster for the Met Office says milder air approaching from the Atlantic Ocean mixing with the UK’s cold air temperatures is to blame for the warning and could bring ‘five centimetres or more’ of snow.
“With milder, moisture-laden air engaging with the cold conditions already in place this may bring a spell of snow in some areas, before possibly turning back to rain in the south.
“Coupled with strengthening winds this could lead to drifting, making travelling conditions difficult over higher-level routes in particular.”
Milton Keynes City Council has said it will be sending out its team of gritters in force to tackle what it predicts will be sub-zero road temperatures.
“We'll be doing a full grit run (priority 1) this evening on the main roads in MK as road surface temperatures will drop to minus 4.8 degrees,” said the council on social media. “Take extra care if out and about and drive to the conditions.”
MKCC gritting routes can be viewed here: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/highways/winter-services.
Meanwhile, the local South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) is urging MK residents and drivers to take extra care this weekend due to the yellow snow warning.
Kirsten Willis-Drewett, assistant director of operations for the Thames Valley at SCAS has advised motorists to ‘think carefully about braking distances and keep further away from the car in front of you’.
Incidents also commonly involve pedestrians and cyclists too, especially when black ice has caught people out and they’ve slipped.
“With the NHS under increased pressure at the moment, every precaution you can take to minimise an avoidable emergency would be greatly appreciated, and allow our ambulance crews to respond more quickly to patients facing a serious or life-threatening emergency,” says the SCAS.
